Must-See Historic Sights in Berlin

Are you a history nerd? Well, then you’re in the right place.

Berlin really does have it all: awesome spaces and places for hip young things, grunge and graffiti, and most exciting of all, plenty of locations where you can immerse yourself in the country’s intriguing history.

And the best part about staying in Citystay is that most of these places are just a short walk, train, or tram ride away.

Begin your day with a 360-degree panoramic view of the Berlin cityscape inside the gleaming glass dome of the Reichstag. Not only will you get a great look at the sprawling metropolis, but it has also been the setting for many of Germany’s historical turning-points. From here, you can also head south towards the Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburg Gate) which formerly represented the division between the East and the West during the Cold War, but now symbolizes the German reunification.

Also known as the “Memorial for the Murdered Jews of Europe,” this sacred space was conceived by architect Peter Eisenmann. His goal? To evoke a feeling of unease, confusion, and disorientation. You’ll certainly get a sense of that as you walk through the memorial’s maze of 2,711 concrete blocks laid on uneven ground.

Alexanderplatz is the geographic city centre of Berlin as well as the main public transport hub. Thus, ending up in this area touted by Alfred Döblin as “the quivering heart of a cosmopolitan city” is inevitable. This section, which is often called “Alex” by locals, is where you’ll find the famed TV Tower (Fernsehturm), the main train station, and many other interesting spots.

Address: 10178 Berlin, GermanyHow to get there: Just a walk across the street from the Citystay hostel!

Unter Den Linden

Image by Norbert Aepli via Wiki Media Commons

Stroll through the 1.5 km stretch of one of Berlin’s most beautiful boulevards. The area’s impressive Linden trees, gorgeous baroque and neoclassical buildings, and historic cafes will make you feel as though you’ve been transported back in time.

The best museums in Berlin are all located between the River Spree and Kupfergraben called the Museum Island (Museuminsel). Here, you can immerse yourself in the most astounding works of art from the Altes Museum (Prussian antiques), Neues Museum (Egyptian and pre-history), Alte Nationalgalerie (19th Century), Bode Museum (Byzantine art), Pergamon Museum (Islamic and Middle-Eastern art). Other interesting nearby sights are the Neue Wache and the Lustgarten.

Address: How to get there: S+U Friedrichstr. Bhf (Berlin)

Citystay Travel Tip! From the Lustgarten you can take the 100/200 Bus to Alexanderplatz. The 100/200 Bus is also a cheap way to tour through many of the important sights in the city.